Tournament Preview: Troy Cox Classic

Feb. 17, 2011

No. 6 Oklahoma (6-1) at Troy Cox Classic
Game Info	Friday, Feb. 18 vs. Southern Utah \| 3:30 p.m. CT Friday, Feb. 18 vs. New Mexico State \| 5:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. Sam Houston State \| 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. ULM\| 5:30 p.m. CT Sunday, Feb. 20 vs. New Mexico State \| 12 p.m. CT
Location	NMSU Softball Complex \| Las Cruces, N.M.
Online	Live Stats \| Game Notes (PDF) \| Twitter

A LOOK AT THIS WEEKEND'S ACTION
The sixth-ranked University of Oklahoma softball team opens travels to Las Cruces, N.M. for the Troy Cox Classic, hosted by New Mexico State University. The Sooners are scheduled to take on Southern Utah, Sam Houston State, ULM and the host school.

A LOOK AT OKLAHOMA AS A TEAM
• Oklahoma went 5-1 on opening weekend at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
• The Sooners got run-rule wins over then-No. 2 Arizona, Cal State Bakersfield, Appalachian State and Northwestern.
• OU's only loss was to then-No. 13 Arizona State, 4-3.
• The Sooners are hitting .407 as a team entering the weekend. OU has scored 56 runs with 52 of those driven in.
• Oklahoma has a .698 slugging percentage and .471 on-base percentage.
• Oklahoma returns all four pitchers from last year's team and the quartet is picking up where they left off.
• The group has combined for a 1.65 earned run average and opponent's batting average of .122.
• OU received seven first-place votes and tallied 79 points to top the 2011 Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The selection marks the third consecutive season in which Oklahoma has been chosen as the preseason favorite.

Sooner to Watch
	Destinee Martinez \| Fr. \| OF • Member of the USA Junior National Team • Led the team in batting average at the Kajikawa Classic (.684) • Had a .737 slugging percentage • Went 2-for-3 in stolen base attempts

A LOOK AT OKLAHOMA INDIVIDUALLY
• Sophomore Keilani Ricketts was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week after going 3-0 at the event. Ricketts got wins over Arizona, Nortwestern and Cal State Bakersfield. She posted a 0.88 earned run average, allowing just two earned runs in 16.0 innings pitched. Ricketts walked four and struck out 27 while holding opponents to five hits and a 0.98 batting average.
• Jessica Shults was named the Big 12 Player of the Week. Shults hit .632 (12-for-19) with seven runs scored. The sophomore had four doubles and four home runs to produce a 1.474 slugging percentage on the week. Shults drove in 15 runs and walked twice, resulting in a .667 on-base percentage. Shults' 28 total bases were tops in the league on the weekend.
• Michelle Gascoigne threw the seventh perfect game in Oklahoma program history on February 11 against Appalachian State.
• Allee Allen recorded her first career collegiate at-bat against Cal State Bakersfield on February 10. Allen drew a walk after fouling off several pitches.
• Freshmen Destinee Martinez, Javen Henson and Brittany Williams all started the first game of the year for Oklahoma at their respective positions.
• Ricketts and Shults have been named to the top 50 watch list for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.
• Head coach Patty Gasso is now 780-252-2 (.755) in 16 seasons at Oklahoma. Gasso is 20 wins shy of OU win No. 800.
• Gasso is 942-311-2 (.750) in her career, 58 wins from the 1,000-win plateau. She is in her 21st season as a head coach.

A LOOK AT THE SERIES HISTORY
• Oklahoma holds a 4-0 series lead over Southern Utah. The last time the two teams met was 2006.
• OU leads the seris with New Mexico State 16-3. The last meeting was 2001.
• The Sooners lead Sam Houston State 9-7 and last met in 2005.
• ULM and OU last met in 2002 and the Sooners lead the series 13-2.

UP NEXT
The Sooners play in the Cathedral City Classic February 24-26 in Cathedral City, Calif.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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